Method for making an implantable medical device from a refractory metal

Abstract

A method for making an implantable medical device from a drawn refractory metal which has an improved biocompatible surface. The method includes coating a refractory metal article with platinum by a physical vapor deposition process and subjecting the coated article to drawing in a diamond die. The drawn article can be incorporated into an implantable medical device without removing the deposited metal.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method for making an implantable medical device comprising the steps of: (a) providing an elongated article of a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, tantalum and alloys thereof;   (b) coating the metal article with a thin coating of platinum;   (c) subjecting the coated article to drawing in a diamond die and;   (d) incorporating the drawn article into an implantable medical device at a portion of the medical device intended for exposure to body tissue or body fluids without removing the coated platinum.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein the wire is of a ribbon-like configuration. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 wherein the wire is a titanium alloy. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1 wherein the coating process is a physical vapor deposition process. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1 wherein the coating ranges in thickness from about 500 Å to about 3000 Å. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 3 wherein the alloy is Ti64-6Al-4V. 
     
     
       7. A method for making an implantable medical device comprising the steps of: (a) providing an elongated article of refractory metal;   (b) coating the refractory metal article with a biologically inert lubricant metal;   (c) subjecting the coated article to drawing in a diamond die; and,   (d) incorporating the drawn article into an implantable medical device at a portion of the medical device intended for exposure to body tissue or body fluids without removing the coated metal.   
     
     
       8. The method of claim 7 wherein the article to be drawn is titanium wire. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 7 wherein the coating process is a physical vapor deposition process. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 7 wherein the coating ranges in thickness from about 500 Å to about 3000Å. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 7 wherein the article to be drawn is tantalum wire. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 7 wherein the biologically inert lubricant metal is platinum. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 8 wherein the wire is of a ribbon-like configuration. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 8 wherein the wire is a titanium alloy. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 8 wherein the wire is of a ribbon-like configuration. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 14 wherein the alloy is Ti64-6Al-4V.